Congressman calls for strong response to Iranian aggression and economic sanctions

• Response to attacks must target Iranian assets and economic hit.

• Proxies of Iran trading lives for American and Israeli lives.

• Recognition needed that hitting proxies is ineffective as a deterrent.

In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Ebrahim Raisi, right, greets the leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas, Ismail Haniyeh at the start of their meeting

AP

In response to the recent drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers, Florida Republican Congressman Mike Walsh has outlined his opinion on how the country should respond. Walsh, who is a member of the House Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence Committee, expressed concern that targeting Iranian proxies alone has not been effective in deterring future attacks. He believes that hitting Iranian assets directly is necessary.

According to Walsh, hitting Iranian assets does not mean sending troops into Iran or even acting solely within its borders. He suggests targeting Iranian operatives operating across the Middle East, including Qassem Soleimani's successor in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Additionally, he suggests striking command and control nodes that Iran uses to communicate with its proxies, as well as production facilities for the drones that are distributed to various militias.

While military actions may have some impact, Walsh believes that the most effective approach would be targeting Iran's economic resources. He emphasizes that as long as Iran remains financially well-off, it will continue to fuel terrorism in the region. Walsh highlighted that Iran's foreign currency reserves have grown from $4 billion to $70 billion under President Trump, with $30 billion earned annually from oil sales, mainly to China.

To address this issue, House Republicans passed the SHIP Act, which imposes secondary sanctions on Chinese buyers, shipping companies, and refineries. Walsh suggests that the current administration should reverse its course on the issue and take similar economic measures. He believes that cutting off Iran's cash flow is crucial to undermining its ability to support terrorism.

Walsh mentioned that there is bipartisan support for this economic approach. He cited the joint call from a Democrat and a Republican on his program, advocating for economic measures against Iran. Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Walsh expressed concern about the administration's defensive stance and emphasized the need for a strong response.

Regarding the situation at the border, Walsh criticized Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and called for his impeachment. He argued that President Biden could reverse Mayorkas's executive actions concerning the border, such as catch and release and the exploitation of parole authority. Walsh claimed that these actions could be reversed by executive order and argued that Mayorkas was intentionally evading and ignoring the laws of Congress, which, he believes, warrants impeachment.

In conclusion, Congressman Mike Walsh emphasizes the importance of hitting Iranian assets directly and imposing economic measures to deter future attacks and curb Iran's support of terrorism. He raises concerns about the administration's defensive stance and calls for a strong response to ensure the safety of American lives.